Could You Imagine Austin Without Barton Springs?

The Chamber has a long history of addressing efforts to enhance the environment including several water-related projects like Barton Springs. Within Zilker Park, the three-acre pool is fed from underground springs. It has an average temperature of 68-70 degrees. Robert Redford – okay, we are totally name dropping – is said to have learned to swim there when he was five. Today, nearly 800,000 visitors take a dip.

In 1917, the Chamber of Commerce instituted and conducted a successful campaign on behalf of the city for the acquisition of Barton Springs, in addition to securing sufficient water for proposed military camps. These springs were a generous gift to the Austin Public Schools by A. J. Zilker.